Emma R.

Today, Emma talks about how God has chosen to send you, how the right perspective on the gospel strips us of pride, and how being uncomfortable is always the best option. This interview is a game-changer! Thank you, Emma, for sharing your wisdom.

Inspiring biblical passage of the moment: One passage that has been impacting my walk with God lately is Luke 10: 1-12, as it talks about praying for people to go into the harvest and then says that He is sending you. I love how God makes it so clear throughout scripture that you are His and that you are sent.

“I love how God makes it so clear throughout scripture that you are His and that you are sent.”

Spiritual growth focus at the moment: The part of myself that I am focusing on is controlling my thought life. God has created me with a wonderfully imaginative and overactive brain, but that in my sinful state can often lead to anxiety and fear. So for me, taking time to be still before the Lord and to worship him and affirm who I am in Him have become a part of my daily routine and is really helping to keep my focus on the longterm. . . heaven.

Profession: Right now I am working a part time job at a gym and the summer intern at my church. I am training and preparing for full-time missions overseas.

A one sentence bio of yourself: Tea-drinking Jesus follower who aspires to influence others to be uncomfortable for the sake of the gospel.

When did you first encounter God and how did you encounter Him? I first encountered God when I was five. But I did not truly get saved and begin living for Him until I was 15.

What has helped you grow spiritually in this season? Focus and fellowship. Focusing on God and His character has helped me to take the focus off of myself. Religion causes you to be proud of yourself, whereas Jesus and the gospel cause you to be proud of Him. Fellowship with other believers has helped me to focus on my mission to be uncomfortable for the sake of Jesus and His gospel.

“Religion causes you to be proud of yourself, whereas Jesus and the gospel cause you to be proud of Him.”

Just read/currently reading (and what has it taught you?): Recently, I have been reading the book Friend of Sinners: Why Jesus Cares More About Relationship Than Perfection by Rich Wilkerson, Jr. I have been learning so much! Jesus never wrote anyone off. He was equally invested in people and He showed the same level of grace to all. He came for those who knew they were sick and needed a doctor. Perfection only leads to thinking YOU in yourself are good enough, when the entire story of mankind is about how we are not, but God is! Such an amazing book and totally worth buying. I got it at Barnes and Noble, but I am sure it is all over the place.

“Jesus never wrote anyone off. He was equally invested in people and He showed the same level of grace to all.”

Top three essentials: Essentials are: 1) Abide- a Christian app that is focused on meditation and prayer. Totally amazing, and I love to use this. It helps with my anxiety and refocuses my heart and mind; 2) My essential oil diffuser- I love being able to use them to relax, or study, or lighten my mood. Thanks be to God who created the little things! 3) My plants that I grow and keep in my window sill. They constantly remind me to be daily growing in my relationship with Christ and how I serve Him. They also remind me that I new in Christ, my old self as passed away and all things are new.

How did God speak to you recently? For awhile, I was really confused about where to continue my education and how to decide where to go to school, and I prayed and sought a lot of wisdom from others. It was something where in my mind everything was becoming jumbled. Then, I felt God steady me and say, “You know where I want you.” And God made it just so clear to me that that is where he wanted me. Now, I am so excited and ready to go to a Bible School and grow and ready myself for full-time ministry.

“It was something where in my mind everything was becoming jumbled. Then, I felt God steady me and say, ‘You know where I want you.'”

Hobby: Horseback riding and gardening.

Top three practical tips for staying spiritually strong: 1) Always pray. Lay your problems at the feet of Jesus and don’t pick them back up. 2) Be bold in sharing Jesus with others. 3) Surround yourself with Christian friends and people who will encourage you to follow Him.

Favorite person in scripture? Esther. She did the hard thing even when it meant she could lose everything.

What do you want people to learn about God when they look at you? That being uncomfortable is always the best option. That Jesus chose to be uncomfortable in order to save us, and we can do the same for Him. That God loves them and can work through them despite anything they may have ever done.

“Jesus chose to be uncomfortable in order to save us, and we can do the same for Him.”

Favorite season? Summer- I love hot weather and being outside as much as possible. I love all the green and the plants and the warm sun.

Favorite holiday? Easter.

A dream you have? To be someone who helps people to realize their identity in Christ. To inspire others to live uncomfortably for the sake of the gospel. And in doing that, to publish a book about it.

A special tradition you and your family engage in or keep: Every Mother’s Day, my mom and all of her kids take a picture together out front of our house and it’s really cool to look back on all the years.

Question you will ask when you get to heaven? Can I give you a hug?

Thing you want to raise awareness about: I want to raise awareness about children in your own communities. My own family fosters children out of our county, and I see the broken homes that people come from. It is time that Christian families move past their own selfishness and begin to care for the orphans as the bible says is the epitome of true and undefiled religion. This is what Jesus has called us to do, and I wish I saw more of us actually doing it.

What do you usually do before 9 a.m.? So basically, my morning routine– *laughs*

Water my plants, drink a huge glass of water, open my window, make my bed, get dressed (wash my face, brush my teeth, etc) then I sit down with my “abide” app and pray and meditate on the word. Then, I read the current book I am enjoying. I work at different times every morning, so sometimes, I am done with that by 7 and sometimes 10!

What is on your nightstand? I keep my essential oil diffuser, some books and my journal, some sea shells, and a few picture frames that hold some beautiful memories.

Define Christianity in a sentence: Christianity is about how an awesome God loves the broken and sinful, and calls them to love in the same manner and to be uncomfortable for the sake of the gospel.

(That question is so very loaded, but thats the quick synopsis)

For more Emma:

Instagram: @too_comfortable

Blog: Too Comfortable Blog

Until next time, keep witnessing!

XOXO